Knockdown hammock support



April 26, 1949. s. KLEIN KNOCK-DOWNHAMMQCK SUPPORT Filed Dec. 7, 194s 5am -fl lei r1) INMENTOR.

Patented Apr. 26, 1949 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE KNOCKDOWN HAMMOQK SUPPORT Sam Klein, Los Angeles, Calif. Application December 7, 1945, Serial No. 633,298

1 My invention relates to a slip joint construction adapted for use in connection with post supports for swings, scaffolding or other knock-down frame-work.

Important objects of the invention are to provide a new and better slip joint which is constructed with a view to avoiding riveting, bolting or welding of the assembled joint; to provide a slip joint of improved construction wherein the interlocking parts assume the strain produced by .the load rather than subjecting to shear the connecting means which unite the parts together; and to provide a slip joint construction which is more easily and quickly dismantled and assembled.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which illustrates what at present is deemed to be a pre- 'ferred embodiment of the invention,

, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention as applied to a post support or column for a swingsuspending means.

Fig. 2' is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the slip joint in the operative and near operative relation with the beam from which the load is suspended.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation of one of the uprights shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 2-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referrin in detail to the drawing the invention therein shown comprises a slip joint 6, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and i, applied to a frame F for supporting a swing 8.

The frame 1 consists of a horizontal structural member 9, preferably of the angle iron or troughshape type, with its vertex extending upwardly, a pair of columns H1 and H at the rightand a similar pair of columns l2 and 3 at the left, and a pair of tension members M and I5 secured together at their midlength and then expanded to form abroad X. The columns Iii, ll, l2 and I3 consist of tubing and serve as braces for the beam .9 while the tension members 14 and i5 consist of .rectangularly shaped plates or bars and serve to prevent spreading of the uprights Iii, ll, l2 and I3.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 5 the tension members have their ends deflected upwardly to form flanges l6 and said flanges are rounded as shown .in Fig. 5 to conform to the inner profiles of the columns into which they are extended with a lii k e s'i r a.

7 Claims. (01.5-)

At points adjacent the ends of the horizontal beam 9 (one end being shown in Fig. 2) are pro vided pairs of slots in each of its flanges l1 and [8, said slots comprising each pair being designated by the numerals i9 and 2B. The slots l9 and 20 at one end of the beam incline to the left while the slots in the beams opposite end incline to the right. Between each pair of slots is a tongue 2! and at the inner ends of each pair of slots are square shoulders 22 and 23. In manufacturing the aforesaid tubular supporting legs the diametrically opposite slots of each pair of slots can be quickly and easily cut into each tubular leg. If solid legs were to be used not only would more material be required to make them but thenecessary formation of grooves across their upper end would require more labor.

Into the upper ends of each post M, H, [2 and I3, considering as an example post fragment l3, as shown spaced from its work piece in Fig. 2, are diametrically opposite downwardly cut slots 24 and 25 of uniform depth thereby providing shoul ders 25 and 2'! which respectively abut the aforesaid shoulders 22 and 23. The curved portions of the pipe between slots 24 and 25 are flattened as indicated by the numeral 28, said flattened portions being adapted not only to overlie and abut the tongues flat surfaces but also to provide lip portions 29 and 3D to overlie the beams surface adjacent the tongue which is occupied by said flattened portions. Thus it will be seen that each tongue 2! projects past the shoulders 25 and 21 far into the columns to distribute the lateral strain of the load to its cooperating member which would ordinarily be transmitted through the medium of a rivet, bolt or weld. Owing to said tongue 2| being gripped throughout its entire length between said flattened portions 28 no rivet, bolt or weld is needed to secure the slip joint in its operative position. The lip portions 29 and 30 together with thefiattened portion 28 function in a similar manner. Cuts I9 and 20 are normally cut to a sizewhich will permit of a working fit with the thickness of the pipe extended thereinto and the depth of each slot 20 is made shorter than that of its companion slot l9 to provide the proper pitch for each column to prevent swaying ,of the beam 3 and/or the swing 8.

, In assembling the different structural members for the purpose of supporting a swing, the several tongues 2! of the beam are projected between the lips 29 and 3!] into the mouths of the different columns until the shoulders 22 and 23 engage the shoulders 26 and'Z'! of the columns. This will cansethe flattened surfaces 28 to. abut the tongue and the lips 29 and 30 to abut the beam to transmit the strain from the post to the beam and conversely the strain from the beam to the columns. Then the open ends of the columns at their lower ends are superimposed over the flanges l6 of the cross members l4 and I5 and the beam 9 is then ready to have a load applied thereto. Any tendency for the columns to spread due to the load applied to the beam 9 is absorbed by the tension members and their flanged ends.

What is claimed is:

1. In a slip joint construction of the kind described, interlocking parts one of which comprises a plate portion having an edge portion furnished with a tongue having parallel slots along the side edges thereof with square shoulders at the base of said slots, and the other interlocking part comprising a tubular column the open end of which has a cut in each of its opposite side edges, the sides of the column between cuts being flattened to provide .a mouth having parallel lips with square shoulders at the corners of said mouth and a flat portion also rearward of each of said lips, the shoulder of one part in the interlocked position abutting the shoulders of the other part, said tongue in the interlocked position extending into said column beyond the shoulders of the latter, and said tongue being gripped throughout its entire length between the flattened walls of the column which lie beyond said cuts, and said lips at such time being in an overlying abutting relation to the faces of the other part which lie adjacent to said tongue and the shoulders adjacent to the root of said tongue. 2. In combination, an overhead member shaped as an inverted trough and comprising a pair of elongated horizontal, downwardly directed wings, each of said wings having a pair of adjacent slots jcut upwardly into its lower edge portion, and a supporting column for each of said wings, the column which supports each wing being tubular with a flattened upper end portion, said flattened portion forming lips which embrace the lower part of the wing, there being a slot extending downwardly into the upper end of each side of each of said columns between the lips thereof, the lower edge portions of the supported overhead member projecting into said column between and below its slots and being embraced by said lips and by flattened portions of said column below them, and the inner ends of the slots of the overhead member abutting against the inner ends of the slots of its supporting columns.

3. The combination in a swing structure comprising an overhead angular beam for supporting a swing, pairs of columns for supporting said beam in an elevated relation to a floor and a pair of cross tension members provided with flanges .detachably engaging the lower ends of said columns to prevent their spreading apart; of a slip joint construction for uniting detachably the upper ends of said pairedcolumns to the opposite .end portions of said beam, said beam and paired columns comprising. interlocking parts one of which comprises a plate portion having an edge portion furnished with' a tongue having parallel of one part in the interlocked position abutting the shoulders of the other part, said tongue in the interlocked position extending into said column so as to be abutted On all sides by and laterally gripped between the flattened Walls of the column which lie beyond and subjacent to said cuts, and said lips at such time being in an overlying abutting relation to the faces of the other part which lie adjacent said tongue and the shoulders adjacent the root of said tongue.

4. In a slip joint construction of the kind described, interlocking parts one of which comprises a plate portion having an edge portion furnished with a tongue having parallel slots along the side edges thereof with square shoulders at the base of said slots, and the other interlocking part comprising a tubular column the open end of which has a cut in each of its opposite side edges, the sides of the column between cuts being flattened thus providing a widened mouth portion having parallel lips with square shoulders at the corners of said mouth and a fiat portion also rearward of each of said lips, the distance between said shoulders being greater than the diameter through the circular part of the column, the shoulder of one part in the interlocked position abutting the shoulders of the other part, said tongue in the interlocked position extending into said column so as to be abutted on all sides 'by the contacting walls of the column which he beyond said cuts, and said lips at such time being in an overlying abutting relation to the faces of the other part which lie adjacent to said tongue and the shoulders adjacent to the root of said tongue.

5. The combination in a swing structure comprising an overhead beam angular in cross section for supporting a swing, pairs of columns for supporting said beam in an elevated relation to a floor; of a slip joint construction for unitingdetachably the upper ends of said paired columns to the opposite end portions of said beam, said beam and paired columns comprising interlocked parts one of which comprises a plate portion having an edge portion furnished with a tongue having parallel slots along the side edges thereof, said slots being of unequal depths in each pair with shoulders at the base of said slots, and the other interlocking part comprising a tubular column the open end of which has a cut in each of its opposite side edges, the sides of the tubular column between cuts being flattened to provide a mouth having parallel lips with shoulders at the corners of said mouth and a fiat portion also rearward of each of said lips, the shoulders of one part in the interlocked position abutting the shoulders of the other part, said tongue in the interlocked position extending into said column so as to be abutted on all sides by the contacting walls of the column which lie beyond said cuts, and said lips at such time being in an overlying abutting relation to the faces of the other part which lie adjacent said tongue and the shoulders adjacent the root of said tongue, the cuts of each of said paired columns extending into said slots to the lower ends of the latter so that said columns 2,468,209 5 6 pair, and a pair of interlocking cross tension REFERENCES CITED members connecting the foot portions of the diag- The following references are of record in the onally opposite columns, said tension members having terminal upwardly directed flanges profile of thls patent jecting upwardly into said columns to prevent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS the latter from spreading farther apart. Number Name Dab 7. The subject matter of claim 6, and said 961400 Berkowitz June 1461910 flanges being rounded in cross section to conform 1 054188 Ehmann Feb 1913 to the interior of the columns into which they 1066668 sisbower 1913 extend with a Wrking slipped-in 1:219:124 MacMechen et a1. Mar. 13, 1917 1,346,973 Padden July 20, 1920 SAM KLEIN 1,719,440 Nathan July 2, 1929 1,828,235 Van Hattum Oct. 20, 1931 1,880,909 Dunlap Oct. 4, 1932 

